Electric switch



(No Model.)

C. W, HUNTINGTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 435,424. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

Ill/VENTOR 617M285 WITNESSES.

A from/5y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFI E.

CHARLES IV. HUNTINGTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,424, datedSeptember 2, 1890. Application filed January 24, 1890. Serial No.337,968. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES IV. HUNTING- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has reference to switches and cut-outs.

The object is to provide a switch which shall be cheap of manufacture,efficient in electric operation, and not liable to become deranged fromuse. 7

In general the invention consists of a base of insulating material, inthe face of which a circulargrooveorchannelisformed,thebottom of thechannel being formed of four inclined planes, the opposite ends of eachof ,which are respectively in two parallel planes. Two of thesemetallicsurfaces are armed with metallic plates and the other two are left bare.A centrally-pivoted circuit-controlling arm is provided withcontact-brushes at its opposite ends, which, when the arm is turned inone direction, drag over the inclined surface and make or break theelectric circuit. A spring is suitably arranged in connection with thecircuit-controlling arms to hold the brushes in contact with theinclined surface.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents aperspective view of the switch with the cover removed. Fig. 2 representsa plan of the same, and Fig. 3 a central section through the base. Arepresents the base. This may be of wood, porcelain, fiber, or anysimilar insulating material. Its upper surface is fiat, and is providedwith a circular groove B,,concentrio with the base. This groove may ormay not be provided with raised edges 1) for the purpose of deepeningthe groove and preventing foreign matters from falling into it. Ont-hebottom of this groove is formed four inclined planes or teeth I), whichmake a form of ratchet on the bottom of the groove. Two of these teeth,which stand opposite each other, are faced with metal and form theswitch terminals of an electric circuit. The other two teeth are leftbare or are made of any suitable insulating material.

In the center of the base-piece a pivoted.

post C is Its lower end is provided with a nut or cross-head c, whichplays in and out of a upon the bottom chamber a in the base. Between thecrosshead and the inner extremity of the chamber a spiral spring isplaced, the tendency of which is to force the cross-head and the centerpost outward. Above the face of the block the post has fitted to it acircuit-controlling arm C, which is adapted to turn with the postthrough a plane substantially parallel to the face of the base of theswitch. The extremities of this arm are at diametrically-opposite pointsjust above the groove B. and the said extremities have attached to themtrailing contact-pieces c, of spring metal, which extend down into thegroove and bear with a yielding pressure upon the bottom thereof. Thecentral base is fitted with a key D of insulating material, by means ofwhich the arm may be thrown around to operate the switch. The object ofthe groove is to retain the contact-brushes c squarely or contact platesof the switch, so as to secure good electric connection. Furthermore, ifthere should be any sparking between the contacts, the same would beconfined between the Walls of the groove and would not do injury toother parts of the switch.

In operation the key is turned in a single direction,movement in theopposite direction being prevented by the vertical walls between theteeth or inclines. The spring in the chamber a tends continually to holdthe brushes to their work, thus insuring good contact. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim In an electric switch, abase of insulating material having a circular groove formed in its face,the bottom of which is in the form of a series of inclined planes, everyalternate plane being metallic and the other planes of insulatingmaterial, in combination with a circuit-controlling element working inthe groove adapted to make and break c ntact with the metallic surfacementioned.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHAS. IV. HUNTINGTON.

Witnesses: I

HENRY BURHEIMER, WM. GI'ITINGER'.

